La Chunga – Located on a side street across from the Martinez Hotel, this small piano bar is a popular venue, often the last to close and always a good bet for a (very) late night drink (24, rue Latour-Maubourg / +33 4 93 94 11 29).

Yves Rocher – Centrally located by the market at the foot of the old town, this is the best and most reasonably priced place for massages, facials and manicures/pedicures in Cannes (6, rue Meynadier, 06400 Cannes / +33 4 93 68 67 88).

CLUBS/KARAOKE

Le Baoli– As well as a lively restaurant with an eclectic menu, this is one of Cannes’ most glamorous dancing spots (Port Pierre Canto, 50, Bd de la Croisette / +33 4 93 43 03 43 / www.baoli-group.com).

Le Grand Bazar – Biba Folleat’s renowned clothing shop selling a mix of French and int’l labels, as wel as being a great place for that last minute cocktail or evening dress during the film festival (68, rue d’Antibes / +33 4 93 38 33 83 / le-grand@wanadoo.fr / www.e-grandbazar.com).

Style Junky – Possibly the best clothes shop in the world! Run by ex-pat Danish couple Julie and Nicolas, this bijou boutique on a small side street running between the Croisette and the rue d’Antibes (Palais end), stocks a brilliantly edited womenswear selection of largely Scandi labels and up and coming designers (2, rue Mace / +33 (0) 493 394 259 / julie@stylejunky.fr / www.stylejunky.fr).

JW Marriott Cannes – The old Noga Hilton went under serious renovation surgery circa 2008/9 and has a more contemporary look and feel as a result, although sadly it’s now lost its private beach to Le Baoli group. The concierge staff are great, location is perfect and the rooftop pool area has wonderful views across the bay. Also previously known as Le Palais Stephanie, the hotel changed hands again in 2010 and is now part of the Marriott hotel group (50, bld de la Croisette / +33 4 92 99 70 00 / www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ncejw-jw-marriott-cannes).

Radisson Blu Hotel – An easy to walk to the Suquet and the Palais, yet tucked away from the madness. It’s right on the beach with a lovely safe swimming spot, a fantastic roof terrace and good spa. The restaurant has spectacular views across Cannes and Guest Experience Manager, Rachel, could not be more welcoming. Check out the post for a full review (La Croisette, 2 boulevard Jean Hibert, 06414 Cannes / t: +33 (0) 4 92 99 73 20 / www.radissonblu.com/hotel-cannes/).

Morrison’s – Cannes’ best and most central Irish pub which is also home to the city’s Comedy Club. Good spot to watch the football and listen to live music (10, rue Teisseire / +33 4 92 98 16 17 / www.morrisonspub.com)

RESTAURANTS:

Beach

3.14 – Beach resto, belonging to the hotel of the same name just to the left of the Hotel Carlton if you’re facing the sea. Good salads, pastas and fish and steak dishes. The chic clientele brings their swimmers and relaxes on the sunbeds on the restaurant’s private beach after lunch (5, rue Francois Einesy / + 33 4 92 99 72 00 / www.314cannes.com).

Baoli Beach – Located directly opposite the new JW Marriott Hotel, this is what used to be the old Noga Hilton’s private beach. Now part of the Baoli group, it’s a standard beach restaurant, less swanky than its sister restaurants but has a nice setting and the food is good (50, boulevard de la Croisette / +33 4 93 99 49 26).

Felix– Slick restaurant decorated in sparkling white giving it an Ibizan feel, serving local French food in a contemporary way. A great all-rounder with its lovely sun terrace and low, banquet seating as well as more traditional tables inside for dinner (63 La Croisette / +33 (4) 93 94 00 61 / www.felix-cannes.com).

Pastis– Fantastic old school bistro in the centre of Cannes serving excellent pizzas, pasta and salads, plus simple and seasonal Mediterranean style meat and fish dishes etc. Wonderful, convivial atmosphere, it’s also one of the best places in Cannes for coffee. Packed out at weekends especially, with a few tables on the outdoors pavement, booking is imperative (28, rue Commandant Andre / +33 4 92 98 95 40 / www.pastis-cannes.com)

Le Melaudy, next door to Pastis, is a really good alternative if Pastis is heaving.

Le Baoli– An eclectic menu ensures this restaurant-cum-club offers something for everyone. A great place for large groups, the glamorous setting and entertaining bar staff guarantee a fun night. Definitely worth the five-minute cab ride to the far end of the Croisette (Port Pierre Canto, 50, Bd de la Croisette / +33 4 93 43 03 43 / www.baoli-group.com)

Barbarella– Ian Schrager-wannabe style restaurant at the top of Le Suquet. The menu is a mix of pan-Asian and French specialities such as fresh local prawns. Fun and different (14-16 rue Saint Dizier / +33 4 92 99 17 33 / www.barbarellarestaurant.fr).

Bruno Oger– The hotel Majestic’s head chef at its now defunct Villa de Lys restaurant has moved on to open up his own gastronomic XX just north of Cannes’ city centre. With two restaurants, there’s something for everyone: for special occasions La Villa Archange is plush and cosy while the Bistro is a more spacious, cheaper serving equally excellent dishes (15 b Rue Notre Dame Des Anges, Le Cannet 06110 / +33 4 92 18 18 28 / www.bruno-oger.com).

La Colombe D’Or– A 20-minute drive east from Cannes, but well worth it. The traditional food is good but it’s the location and sense of history that make this place extra special. Where else can you enjoy a fantastic meal surrounded by original paintings by Picasso, Braque, Miro, Chagall and their contemporaries? (St Paul de Vence, / +33 4 93 32 80 02 / www.la-colombe-dor.com).

Mantel–Run by Noel Mantel, a well known chef in the region who trained under and worked alongside France’s celebrated Alain Ducasse, this eponymous and chicly decorated restaurant specialising in traditional Mediterranean cuisine, is the best in the Old Town. Book well in advance, especially during conference and festival times (22 Rue Saint Antoine, Le Suquet, t: +33 4 93 39 13 10 / www.restaurantmantel.com).

Le Mesclun– Family run and incredibly popular – if a little over-priced – restaurant in the Old Town (16 Rue St-Antoine / +33 4 93 99 45 19).

About

The Fat Mouse loves everything cool, design-led, fun, new or undiscovered. A lesser-known, particularly curious and greedy town-dwelling descendant of the ordinary Norfolk field mouse, The Fat Mouse is on a mission to seek out and share the best in food and travel.